In a bid to improve transparency at corruption-riddled Customs, Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon on Monday announced that closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will be installed in his office and that the public will be allowed to watch his every move.
Cameras will be installed first in his office. Other frontline offices will follow.
"By next week, you can now view me in my office, in my conference rooms and everywhere that’s within the Office of the Commissioner, so I’ll set an example on the setting up of the CCTVs," he said.
Online monitoring and video footage review will be available starting next week.
Manila ports will also soon be equipped with cameras.
"We expect that in 30 more days, the big ports in Manila can now be viewed publicly, all the transactions being done there, but my office is the first one so that no employee will refuse the setting up of the CCTVs" he said.
He emphasized, this is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to increase transparency in all government agencies.
Faeldon also said media personnel are welcome to inquire in his office even without the Freedom of Information law in place.
Meanwhile, Faeldon also reported that the agency has confiscated about P1.3-billion-worth of contraband in their first 50 days in office.
"P1.3-billion of different contraband have been seized by the Bureau of Customs, ranging from drugs, red onions, sugar, and kasama yung mga pampaganda, cosmetics, mga fake or without FDA permits coming from the different parts of the world," said Faeldon.
He added, they were also able to intercept 10 high-powered firearms which were kept inside balikbayan boxes.
He also revealed, a case is already being pursued against Customs Police Captain Arnel Baylosis, a customs official who allegedly received millions of pesos to allow entry of certain products into the country.
"Four individuals who have direct transactions with him testified through affidavit that previously, since 2012 they have been giving bribe money, it’s called 'tara' amounting to P100- to P120-million monthly," he said.
"I've already forwarded the case folder of this employee to the Department of Justice for investigation," he added.
He maintained, they "are continuously isolating and tracking the bureau officials that are believed to be very corrupt."
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